Emergencies Ministry to add Arctic rescue units in Yakutia

The Russian Emergencies Ministry has decided to establish additional Arctic search and rescue units in Yakutia, the ministry's press service reported. During a Government Hour meeting at the Federation Council, a senator from the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Alexander Akimov, asked Emergencies Minister Vladimir Puchkov to support the local government's initiative to strengthen Arctic search and rescue in the republic. The minister said that he supports this initiative and added that he would sign a corresponding directive.

"The minister has signed a directive on establishing additional Arctic search and rescue units," the portal reads, citing the ministry's spokesman.

The new units will make up a branch of the Far Eastern regional search and rescue team of the Russian Emergencies Ministry.

"The local government, the leadership of the Far Eastern Regional Center and the Main Directorate of the Emergencies Ministry in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) have looked into providing a building to accommodate the team," the ministry reported.